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Kidney cancer
Clinical manifestations of renal cancer
The clinical manifestations and staging of kidney cancer are related to the most common early-stage kidney cancer, late-stage kidney cancer, or metastatic kidney cancer. Generally, early-stage kidney cancer exhibits few clinical symptoms and is often detected during physical examinations, through ultrasonography of the urinary tract, or kidney ultrasonography, where tumors are the most commonly found. Additionally, later stages of kidney cancer often present as swelling pain in the waist area or occasional hematuria. More serious conditions involve feeling a mass in the upper abdomen upon palpation, which is a clinical manifestation. Nowadays, with heightened awareness for health checks, such conditions are generally discovered through these examinations. When major clinical manifestations like hematuria and abdominal masses occur, it indicates that the kidney tumor has already progressed to the mid or late stages.
Is kidney cancer the same as uremia?
Kidney cancer and uremia are two completely different concepts. Kidney cancer refers to the presence of a malignant tumor, which is a malignant lesion in kidney-type tissues. Certain cells in the kidney are in a state of limitless proliferation, continuously replicating to form kidney-like masses, and may cause hematuria, or even squeeze kidney tissues affecting their function. Uremia, on the other hand, refers to long-term chronic damage to the kidneys from various diseases, leading to the destruction of over 90% of kidney tissue, rendering the kidneys unable to excrete metabolic waste. This results in azotemia, electrolyte disorders, and other complications, a state known as uremia. Patients with kidney cancer, if the damage to kidney tissues is not severe, may still have normal kidney function. However, if severe problems occur in both kidneys, kidney cancer could also lead to uremia, although this situation is relatively rare.
Can kidney cancer be diagnosed with a CT scan?
If you have kidney cancer, preoperative examinations, including ultrasound, CT, and even MRI, cannot definitively diagnose the cancer. These preoperative tests primarily provide diagnostic references. To confirm a diagnosis of kidney cancer, a biopsy via renal tumor puncture must be performed, or after surgery, the specimen should be sent for pathological examination to be definitively diagnosed based on the pathology results. This is because the pathology results clarify the type of tumor cells and their grading, making the pathological examination the final and most accurate diagnostic result.
Kidney cancer most commonly metastasizes to which locations?
Kidney cancer clinically tends to metastasize through direct spread, the lymphatic pathway, and the hematogenous pathway. The lymphatic route often involves enlargement of the perirenal lymph nodes or the lymph nodes in the groin or retroperitoneum. Kidney cancer is also prone to metastasize to the lungs, liver, bones, and other parts via the bloodstream. Similarly, kidney cancer can spread to the perirenal area, ureters, bladder, and other parts through direct extension. Once kidney cancer metastasizes to other organs, it is considered to be in the advanced stages clinically, and treatment primarily involves targeted therapy, chemotherapy, and other comprehensive treatment measures, with surgical treatment not being used as the primary anti-tumor treatment. Once kidney cancer has metastasized, the clinical staging is late, and the prognosis for the patients is poor.
Will there be metastasis after kidney cancer removal?
Currently, all malignancies tend to metastasize. Renal cancer is a common malignant tumor of the kidney in the urinary system. Generally, patients might not exhibit any symptoms in the early stages. The most common symptoms are usually back pain and hematuria, and some patients are diagnosed due to an abdominal mass. The primary treatment for renal cancer is surgical intervention, which is considered the preferred method and is believed to be potentially curative. For patients with stage I, II, III, and IV renal cancer, the survival rates decrease progressively. Patients with stage I and II renal cancer should have follow-ups every three to six months for three consecutive years after surgery, and then annually. Patients with stage III and IV renal cancer should have follow-ups every three months for two years post-treatment, then monthly in the third year, and annually thereafter. Early detection of metastasis is crucial for timely treatment. Therefore, even after nephrectomy, renal cancer might recur, and regular follow-ups are essential.
What are the characteristic manifestations of kidney cancer?
Kidney cancer is a type of malignant tumor. Patients with this disease may exhibit some clinical symptoms. Some patients experience dull pain in the lumbar and back area due to the large growth of the tumor, which compresses the renal capsule. As the tumor grows, it may rupture and bleed, causing the patient to have visible blood in the urine. This type of hematuria is often painless and consistent throughout; patients may also feel a mass in the abdomen. In the early stages of kidney cancer, many patients do not exhibit clinical manifestations or discomfort. Therefore, patients often only exhibit the aforementioned clinical symptoms in a more severe state, later in the progression of the disease.
Can kidney cancer patients eat mutton?
Patients with kidney cancer should pay attention to maintaining a balanced intake of nutrients and avoid consuming spicy and stimulating foods, as well as foods that may increase the metabolic burden on the kidneys. It is advisable to minimize or avoid consumption of lamb. Patients should also avoid drinking alcohol, especially strong spirits, and refrain from smoking and eating pickled items or leftover meals, as these may aggravate the cancer condition. It is recommended to eat garlic and consume fruits and vegetables like cucumbers, pears, and peaches, such as apples, pears, and apricots, to increase intake of vitamins and fiber. The daily diet should be light, with an emphasis on high protein intake, including more fish in the diet.
Is the recurrence rate of kidney cancer high?
Kidney cancer is associated with a certain recurrence rate. If a patient undergoes partial nephrectomy for kidney cancer, it is crucial to schedule regular follow-ups at the hospital to monitor the renal pelvis and check if the cancer has recurred. If the patient has undergone radical nephrectomy, where the affected kidney is entirely removed, it is important to regularly observe the surrounding tissues and distant organ tissues for any signs of tumor metastasis.
Can renal cancer be detected by ultrasound?
Ultrasound is a type of imaging examination that can observe the size, shape, structure, texture, and the presence of masses in the organs being examined. It can be used to determine if a patient potentially has kidney-related masses, such as differentiating between a kidney cyst and kidney cancer based on differences in shape and blood supply that malignant tumors typically exhibit compared to other conditions. However, using ultrasound to diagnose kidney cancer can be inaccurate, particularly in the early stages of the disease when ultrasound may not provide a clear view, and some complex cases of kidney cancer may still be indeterminate. Therefore, patients might consider undergoing an enhanced CT scan, which offers a higher diagnostic accuracy. Additionally, a kidney biopsy and pathological examination might be necessary for a definitive diagnosis.
What are the early symptoms of kidney cancer?
Kidney cancer is a common malignant tumor in the urinary system. Many patients with early-stage kidney cancer do not show any symptoms clinically and are incidentally discovered during medical examinations. Many patients in the early stages may also present with painless hematuria, sometimes as gross hematuria and sometimes as microscopic hematuria. Some patients may experience pain in the kidney area due to blood clots formed after hematuria, mainly presenting as intermittent episodes of mild back pain. Additionally, some patients in the early stages might show symptoms of paraneoplastic syndrome, such as hypertension and fever, but these clinical symptoms generally occur at a very low frequency. When patients present with obvious clinical symptoms, it often indicates that the kidney cancer has metastasized, leading to a clinical presentation of mid-to-late stage kidney cancer.